I had the pleasure of attending a talk by former European Cup-winning captain of Nottingham Forest, John McGovern recently. The event was held at the pleasant Embankment pub situated just off the opposite bank of the River Trent from the City Ground, scene of many of John’s triumphs with the team under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. A friend tells me that the events room used for the evening was actually the original office of one Jesse Boot of Boots the Chemist fame. Certainly, a beautiful room complete with some exquisite leaded windows and a fitting place of work for such a luminary.
Image: The Scottish Sun
I was always a great admirer of John McGovern, in his best position as a central midfielder though playing wide right and, in my memory, as a central defender with some aplomb. He was what we might term as a ‘players’ player’ – a perfect professional, always therein support of his teammates on the pitch, an inspirational leader and an individual who didn’t mind doing the ‘dirty work’ for the team. John was a laudable yet sometimes unsung player I always felt. As he would say himself, he was not a player with flashy, eye-catching skills but I will always remember him as the ‘glue’ that made that great Nottingham Forest side of over forty years ago tick. What’s more, for all the wonderfully talented players in that team, for me, they were never quite as fluent in his absense.
The main thrust of the talk was of John’s football career, especially how it was often entwined with the mercurial Brian Clough. The master manager signed him for his first club, Hartlepools United, then for Derby County, Leeds United and finally where some of his greatest his greatest successes were recorded, for Nottingham Forest.
John explained that he was sometimes discounted due to his style of running as he had a muscle missing in his shoulder which left him slightly lop-sided. His initial encounter with Brian Clough was hardly an auspicious one, lining up with the other youngsters to meet Clough, he stood last in a line with the other young lads who all received a welcoming handshake from the manager. Finally reaching John, Clough didn’t extend his hand but rather addressed him thus, ‘stand up straight young man, and get a haircut, you look like a girl’.
There were some amusing stories from Hartlepools, days in particular one game where Clough attempted to coerce Peter Taylor into carrying out the trainer’s job, complete with a bucket of cold water and the famed magic sponge. During the game a player went down injured with the referee blowing up and calling for the trainer on the pitch. Nothing happened. Again, a call for the trainer – nothing. Finally, there was the sight of a sponge being tossed from the dugout onto the pitch, sans trainer.
Image: Irish Mirror
Clough of course had his unique ways of instructing players. John explained that when first in a training session with him Clough ordered him to run as fast as he could to the corner flag and back with the ball. Asking how he’d done, John was then instructed to run again to the corner flag and back, this time without the ball. On arriving back, Clough asked him ‘now which one was easier? Pass the ball!’
I asked John about a particular angry scene on the pitch against Liverpool once and he explained that he’d probably ran towards the referee to ‘even up the numbers’, stating that Liverpool would tend to crowd and influence the referee just as Leeds United were renowned in earlier days.
John McGovern had a wonderful and decorated career and he opined variously on the subject of former Forest winger, John Robertson ‘completely two-footed and a genius’, lack of making intelligent decisions in some modern players and the pitiful acceleration of diving within the game. Memorably, when asked how he thought the great Forest side he played in would have fared against today’s Manchester City, Chelsea et al. He was very confident that the Reds would have been going into these games and expecting a result. I am in agreement with him too.
John McGovern works as Nottingham Forest club ambassador these days and mentioned that manager Steve Cooper welcomed him to get involved with the team. John didn’t feel as though it was his right to give advice though certainly would if asked. As a post note, he felt that his old team inits present apparition might be short of two or three quality players to tackle season 2023/4.
To end the evening, John joined a group of supporters for a drink and chat for a good time and as well as being an absolute gentleman, proved himself an affable and approachable man. Just as one might have expected of the great midfielder.
THE TEARS OF A CLOWN 